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1986 Chevrolet Celebrity

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

2Recall campaigns

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3Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19838
198415
198533
198644
198739
198839
1989
Compare all Celebrity years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
9Electrical System
7Seat Belts
5Structure
4Exterior Lighting
2
All reported categories
Seats
2Service Brakes, Air
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Power Train
1Suspension
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 33 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Tires complaints

1 reports
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350,000 miles · Jul 11, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 CHEVEROLET CELEBRITY STATION WAGON. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR DOUGLAS TIRES, SIZE 195/75R14. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A TIRE STORE FOR A ROUTINE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT TIRES. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, WHEN PURCHASING TIRES FROM WAL-MART, THE TIRES DID NOT FIT CORRECTLY DUE TO IMPROPER LUBRI…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 CHEVEROLET CELEBRITY STATION WAGON. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR DOUGLAS TIRES, SIZE 195/75R14. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A TIRE STORE FOR A ROUTINE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT TIRES. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, WHEN PURCHASING TIRES FROM WAL-MART, THE TIRES DID NOT FIT CORRECTLY DUE TO IMPROPER LUBRICATION AND MOUNTING. AS A RESULT, THE TIRES MADE A THUMPING SOUND WHEN DRIVING. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 350,000.

NHTSA ODI #10233994

Official recalls

2

86V131000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Sep 19, 1986

THE PUSH PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.

86V056000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Apr 28, 1986

THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure

Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

PE91120 · Front Brake Disc/hub Sep

Opened Aug 30, 1991 · Closed Nov 4, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

EA87006 · Power St. Assist

Opened Dec 16, 1986 · Closed Sep 19, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======